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Market forecast: Fragile optimism emerges in the UK construction sector
For the first time since the autumn Budget, cautious optimism is emerging. While project viability remains under pressure, there are early signs of recovery
My route into construction … Daniel Parker, cost consultant at MESH
The industry includes an impressive range and variety of roles – but unless you are on the inside it can be hard to know how to break in, let alone progress to the top. In this series, we talk to professionals about their often surprising career twists and turns
76 Upper Ground: Denys Lasdun’s 1960s South Bank vision is realised at last
The IBM Building was a cut-down version of architect Denys Lasdun’s plans for a complementary neighbour to the National Theatre on the banks of the Thames. AHMM’s recent refurbishment, which sees the building brought firmly into the 21st century, means that original vision is now complete
Why Durkan is eyeing rapid expansion through social housing stock upgrades
Contractor and housebuilder Durkan is pivoting towards improving existing stock for social landlords. Dan Germann, managing director of its rebranded Durkan Regen business, explains his plans to grow the asset regeneration arm to the tune of £100m over the next five years
Significant, welcome, sensibly cautious but most definitely promising … the experts’ verdict on the infrastructure strategy
We asked members of Building’s Funding the Future advisory panel to reflect on the government’s 10-year infrastructure strategy unveiled this month and share their views on its significance and potential as a means for unlocking the finance to get Britain building
‘This could be such a powerful platform’ … BCO’s new chief on finding a voice for a transformed sector
Under the leadership of ex-journalist Samantha McClary, the office sector’s membership body wants to be more vocal, drive data sharing and modernise the organisation
Remembering Geoffrey Trickey (1 Sept 1935 to 23 May 2025)
Paul Morrell pays tribute to the former senior partner of Davis Langdon & Everest (now part of Aecom), who died in May, just a few months short of his 90th birthday.
Why the government is looking to the Thames Tideway project for ways to fund £14.2bn Sizewell C
The private financing model known as RAB is to be used to raise cash for the new nuclear power station, reservoirs and the Lower Thames Crossing. Joey Gardiner looks at lessons learnt on the Thames Tideway project to find out why RAB is now all the rage
‘I worry for those who advocate for too much restraint’… The City’s new planning committee chair on the future of the Square Mile
Building sits down with Tom Sleigh for his first media interview after his appointment to one of the UK’s most high-profile planning roles
Unpacking the museum: a look inside the new V&A Storehouse in Stratford
Ben Flatman visits the V&A’s new public store in east London, where the backstage world of conservation, curation and storage is placed front and centre
What will the Treasury’s Green Book review mean for construction?
Boris Johnson’s 2020 review of the Treasury’s appraisal process for government investments led to some improvements in how value in schemes is judged, but a new review commissioned by Labour this year has found that many of the old practices remain embedded. Rachel Reeves has said she wants to go ...
From the archives: Building London’s millennium projects, 1999
Building speaks to the project teams working under pressure to finish the Millennium Dome, the London Eye and the Jubillee Line extension in time for New Year’s Eve
Construction industry gossip: Through a glass darkly
The latest chatter around the industry
Sustainability: How to minimise waste and maximise reuse at a building’s end of life
Construction accounts for around a third of all waste sent to landfill, much of this at a building’s end of life. How can the industry develop a better approach to deconstruction?
Learning from the land of opportunity: Could a US-style system of low income tax credits boost affordable housing in the UK?
The government is on the hunt for ways to fund affordable housing without increasing short-term public borrowing. A group of activists and researchers believes there is a solution in operation across the Atlantic. As part of Building’s Funding the Future series, Carl Brown finds out more
‘I needed to do something else’ … Steve Mason on life at (and after) Mace, finding his mojo at Avison Young and trying to ditch the tie
The man who helped to set up the firm’s consulting arm tells Dave Rogers what he did next
Cost model: The infrastructure challenge behind England’s 1.5 million homes target
The government has committed to ambitious housebuilding goals but risks overlooking the supporting infrastructure demands and costs
What will the infrastructure strategy say about private finance?
As well as setting departmental capital budgets for rest of the parliament, this month’s spending review will also be followed by a long-awaited infrastructure strategy that will determine the future of private finance on public projects. Joey Gardiner reads the tea leaves
The 2025 BCO conference in Milan: Key takeaways from this year’s event
Returning to mainland Europe for the first time in six years, developers, contractors and occupiers gathered to discuss the future of the office. Daniel Gayne runs through some of the main discussion points from the three-day conference
Meet the ‘activist regulator’: ARB boss Hugh Simpson on earning and maintaining public confidence
Ben Flatman meets the chief executive of the Architects Registration Board to discuss making difficult decisions, reforming education the importance of CPD and the future of regulation
How hard is it to decarbonise the construction of new homes?
More than 60% of a new home’s total carbon footprint is emitted before the new owner walks over the threshold. The Future Homes Hub has published an initial decarbonisation plan to tackle the issue. What is in it and will it make a difference?
What the Lower Thames Crossing and Euston station projects say about the government’s private finance plans
The government has said it will fund the giant Euston station and Lower Thames Crossing schemes using private finance. With the Treasury mulling a broader injection of private capital into public projects, Joey Gardiner examines how ministers are going about it – and the prospects for success
Key talking points from UKREiiF 2025
Building Safety Regulator delays, new towns and infrastructure were the biggest topics at this year’s gathering of construction professionals in Leeds as the industry debated the degree to which a huge amount of work could be threatened by systemic challenges
What would a new generation of PFI mean for construction?
Browne Jacobson partner Craig Elder boils down some of the issues discussed at last week’s meeting of the Public Accounts Committee as the government considers launching a new generation of PFI to pay for its 10-year infrastructure programme
From the archives: Aftermath of the Bishopsgate bombing, 1993
Building reports forgotten plan for 80-storey Foster & Partners-designed tower to replace NatWest following IRA bomb which killed one and damaged 155 buildings in the heart of the City
‘It will take time’ … WSP’s head of structures on industry gender parity, juggling work and life and going to the Palace
Claire Gott has been at WSP since 2010 after graduating from university. She’s now in charge of the firm’s structures business in the UK
‘We’re like the Borrowers, nobody knows we’re here’ … How Sisk plans to build Man City a new stand without the fans noticing
The Irish contactor has been busy working behind the scenes at the Etihad. This summer the team will finally get their time on the pitch - and will have to make it count
International construction cost comparison 2025
International construction cost trends as the world reacts to US tariffs amid persistent inflation and high borrowing costs
More space, more clarity, more welcoming and accessible: The Sainsbury Wing transformed
Ben Flatman explores the remodelling of the Sainsbury Wing and asks what is lost when a celebrated postmodern building is updated to make it more welcoming and accessible
PFI: Do the numbers add up?
With the government understood to be considering reinstating a form of private financing to pay for public infrastructure ahead of the launch of its 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy next month, Joey Gardiner weighs up whether reigniting PFI would be a good idea
‘It’s time to go when the projects you worked on are being redone …’ Core Five’s James Clark on Davis Langdon, starting afresh and why he’s off to see the world
The joint founder of one of the firms that emerged out of Davis Langdon’s sale to Aecom talks to Dave Rogers about that deal, why it was the making of many and the importance of taking nothing for granted
Looking to Europe in the face of global uncertainty: Andy Hay explains Hollis’s plans for growth
The consultancy’s chief executive is confident that the sustainability agenda in northern Europe holds the key to the future despite Trump’s war on climate change policies. Carl Brown reports
Mission accomplished: University completes test drive towards net zero carbon building standard
A small robotics laboratory is one of the pilot projects for the NZCBS. It features straw-insulated walls and a UK-sourced timber frame and shows what net zero buildings might look like after 2030. Thomas Lane reports
‘You’re operating in the grey space, making decisions with a lot of unknowns’: Katy Dowding on two years at the top of Skanska UK
The firm’s president and CEO took the helm at a turbulent time for the country and for contractors. She tells Chloe McCulloch about her leadership style, her rejigged executive team and how industry and government can deliver more with less if they work together.
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5 minutes with … Brian Connolly at HOK
The firm’s regional leader for science and technology in London on hearing about scientific breakthroughs made in HOK-designed buildings, keeping work and home life separate, why his decades-old bike will never be stolen and his love of local food festivals
5 minutes with … Josh Croft at Edmond Shipway
The firm’s M&E director on coordination on the road to net zero, learning from mistakes, maintaining a good work-life balance and why he dislikes the Etihad stadium
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